Process of making pressed-steel wheels



Feb. 19 1924.

J. LEDWINKA PROCESS oF MAKING PREssED STEEL WHEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 2l. 1917 lzvenor;

Seph/Le J. LEDwlNKA ,PROCESS OF MAKING PRESSED STEEL WHEELS Feb. 19 1924. l

Original `Filed Feb. 2l,4 1917 v 2 Sheets-Sheet Z Inde-MOP: Lfosephle mm1,

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JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSXGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, T0 BUDD WHEEL COMPANY, F PHILADELPHI, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATON OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS 0F MAKING PEESSED-STEEL WHEELS.

Original application filed February 21,1917, Serial NoI 150,084. Divided and August 16, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEDWINKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Pressed-Steel Wheels, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved process of' making pressed steel wheels. The subject matter of this application is divided from my application for pressed steel wheels and the process of making the same, Serial No.150,084, filed February 21st, 1917, on which Letters Patent, No. 1,423,229 were granted, July 18, 1922.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved process of making pressed steel wheels by means of which the hub and spokes may be formed from a single blank of sheet metal with a minimum amount of Waste.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of operation, will delinitely appear from the detailed description to follow. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this speciiication, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pressed steel wheel constructed in accordance with my invention, parts being broken away and parts in section. i

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a form of split rinbg used to retain the wheel in place on the hu Fig. 4 is a broken, sectional view through the retaining ring and hub cap.-

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a form of rim employed in connection with my invention.

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the connection of the spokes to the rim.

Fi 7 is a view of a steel sheet which has been lanked out ready to be formed into a wheel in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8' of Fig. 1. l

this application filed Serial No. 492,767.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the-arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In carrying out my invention, a steel sheet or plate is irst stamped or blanked into the form shown in Fig. 7, that is, the blank is formed with a central solid portion, 10the ends, 11 and 12, of yvhich are tapered ordinclined relative tothe longitudinal axis of the body portion. Each side portion of the blank is kerfed or slotted, as shown at 13,

to form'-l spoke portions, 14. These spoke portions are arranged in staggered relation so that the spoke portions on one-side of the central body portion are out of line with those on the other side of the central body portion. The kerfs or slots, 13, may be shaped so as to provide the spoke portions,

14, with the enlarged ends, 15. In forming v the blank, the spoke portions may be pressed into the transversely curved shape shown 1n Flg. 8, at 16, so as 'to strengthen the spokes and improve the appearance of the Wheel; i f

After the blank has been formed, it is rolled into a vtube and the tapered or inclined edges, 11 and 12, are secured together Vby welding or otherwise. The tube thus formed is expanded in suitable shaping dies at the end ortions of the tubular portion formed by t e body, 10, of the blank. This tubular portion forms the wheel body or central sleeve which receives the inner hub on which the wheel is supported. The inner end of this tubular portion is expanded to a greater extent than the outer, givmg this central sleeve a longitudinal taper, at 17, to facili.

lso

tate the mounting of the wheel on the inner v hub. This enlarged end, 17, may be pressed into polygonal shape in cross-section, as indicated at 19, Fi 1, to cooperate' With'a correspondingly s aped part of thevinner hub. This forms a simple driving connection between the wheel and the inner hub. A reinforcing ring, 20, may be applied to the enlarged end17, if desired.

The spoke portions, 14, are bent outwardly so as to bring the free ends of one set into line with the free ends of the other set andl then secured to thewheel. rim. Since the' spoke portions on one side of the blank are out of line with those on the other side of the blank, when they are bent outwardly the spokes Will be staggered. as appears from Fig. 1. I have illustrated a tire rim 'formed of complementary portions, 21 and 22,'each having a tire-engaging flange, 23, along one edge and an offset flange, 24, along the other edge. In assembling the wheel, the flanges, 24, of the-rim sections are brought together and the enlarged ends, 15, of the spokes are clamped between these flanges. The rim flanges, 24, and the spoke ends, 15, are then Welded or otherwise. secured together. In practice, I prefer to notch out the opposed surfaces of the flanges, 24, at the points Where the spoke ends engage them, as indicated at 25, Fig. 5, but not to a suficient extent to permit the opposed surfaces.

of the flanges, 24, to come into contact with each other when the spoke endsv are seated in the notches, 25. This enables me to secure a most expeditious, effective and economical Welding together of these parts under the influence of heat and pressure, thus producing a strong and durable, but inexpensive structure.

The Wheel constructed in accordance with my process may be mounted on an inner hub, 26, carried by axle, 27, and provided with a seating portion, 28, shaped to conform to and receive the enlarged end, 17, of the Wheel body. The outer end, 29, of the hub, 26, may be threaded externallyto receive a hub cap, 30, by which the Wheel is retained detachably on the inner hub. AThe hub cap, 30, has an annular shoulder, 32, and a tapered surface, 31,`adjacent thereto. A split ring, 33, which may be stamped out of sheet metal, is seated on the tapered surface, 31, and has a flange portion, 34, engaging the outer end of the wheel bore to clamp the Wheel upon the hub. A brake drum, 35, may be secured to hub, 26, if desired.

The rim construction and the connection between rim and spokes, which is disclosed here, is described and claimed in Letters Patent. No. 1,371,382, pressed steelwheel, issued March 15th, 1921, on another division of my said application, Serial No. 150,084. The `means for retaining the Wheel on the inner hub are described and claimed in Letters lPatent, No. 1,442,621, issued January 16, 1923, on my application for retaining devices for removable Wheels, Serial No. 195,514, filed Oct. 9, 1917, whichl was another division ofthe said application, Serial No. 150,084.

VI am aware that the particular embodiment. of my invention disclosedin this application is susceptible of considerable -variation Without departing from the spirit of my inventon, andtherefore. I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the aps p ended claims. f

Having thus described my invention,

Wheels, the process which comprises stamping out a sheet metal blank to form a central body portion and spoke portions on opposite sides of the body portion, with the Vspoke portions on one side out of line with those on thevother side of the body portion, rolling the blank into the form of a tube, and' bending the spoke portions outwardly.

3. In the manufacture of pressed steel wheels, the process which comprises stamping out a sheet metal blank to form a central body portion and spoke portions on opposite sides of the body portion, rolling the blank into the form of a tube, bending the spoke portions outwardly, and securing the free ends of the spoke portions together. f 4. In the manufacture of pressed steel wheels, the process which comprises stamping out a sheet metal blank to form acentral `body portion and spoke portions on opposite sides of the body portion, with the spoke portions on one side out of line with those on the other side of the` body portion. rolling the blank into the .form of a tube, bending the spoke portions outwardly to bring their free ends into line with each other, and securing said free ends together. y

5. In the manufacture of pressed steel wheels, the process which comprises stamping out a sheet metal blank to form a central body. portion with inclined ends and spoke portions at the opposite side edges of the body portion, rolling the blank into the form of a tube and securing the said inclined ends together, and bending the spoke portions outwardly to bring their free ends toward each other.

In the manufacture of pressed steel Wheels, the process which comprises stamping out a sheet metal blank to form( a central body portion and spoke portions on opposite sides of the body portion, rolling the blank into the form of a tube and securing the ends of said body portion together, expanding one end of said tube, bending the spoke portions outwardly, land securing the free ends thereof to a tire rim.

7. The process ofjmaking wheels which consists in cuttingw from sheet metal a Wheel member and integrally-attached spoke elements extending from opposite side edges of said Wheel member and separated by the free end portions of saidspoke elements slits staggered with respect to lthe opposite at opposite ends of said wheel member to slits, shaping the cut-out structure into the converge toward each other, and securing a 10" form which it occupies in the finished Wheel second Wheel member to the free ends of 5 by bending said wheel member into circular said spoke elements.

form and by bending said spoke elements In testimony Where0f,I affix my Signature.y backwardly through more than 90 to cause JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

